Charles Dickens Slept Here!
Blair County, Pennsylvania 

ILLUSTRATED BOOKLET

The history of Blair County, PA, is recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this NEW 19 Page Booklet, reprinted primarily from three hard-to-find books: An Illustrated History of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania  (1876) by William Egle, M.D., Pennsylvania, a Guide to the Keystone State, a WPA project published in 1940, and My Pennsylvania, a 1946 project of the Bureau of  Publications, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  The spiral-bound booklet is printed on quality paper, with the print enlarged for easier reading. A clear vinyl sheet protects the front cover.  

The communities mentioned include: Hollidaysburg, Altoona, Claysburg, Duncansville, Frankstown, Martinsburg, Newry, Tyrone, Williamsburg,; and townships: Allegheny, Antis, Blair, Catharine, Frankstown, Snyder, Tyrone, Woodberry, Greenfield, Huston, North Woodberry, Freedom, Juniata, Logan and Taylor.

The Egle history covers the early development of this area, while excerpts from the WPA book, give a nostalgic glimpse from a 1940 vantage point, including interesting historical notes, especially as they relate to sightseeing possibilities.

Among the many and diverse subjects in the booklet are: Early settlers, County formation in 1846, Pennsylvania Railroad in Altoona; Indian Troubles; Politics; Land of Many Valleys (Juniata, Sinking Spring, Logan’s, Scotch, Canoe, and Morrison’s Cove); 2 great curiosities: Arch Spring and Cave; RR and Canal form first Unified Transportation System in PA; Charles Dickens travels through area; a Penny Toss names a town; Frontier Missionary Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin; model iron works; exile of Chief John Logan; and other interesting bits of history and trivia.

The recently added third book includes a 1940s map of the county, several photos and a concise update of the county's progress as it looked shortly after World War II. 

ILLUSTRATIONS include Blair County Court House and Distant View of the Alleghenies (full page).

Wouldn't this make a unique gift?